Author: Ashley

Roasted Eggplant Salad

Roasted Eggplant Salad

I love eggplant fresh from the garden.  You can use a large eggplant or several small eggplants to make this dish.  I used a dozen or so small eggplants from my mother in laws garden to make this salad.  You can eat this by the 

Crab and Ricotta Stuffed Manicotti

Crab and Ricotta Stuffed Manicotti

Crab with ricotta and herbs stuffed in manicotti shells topped with marinara sauce.  This is a simple and delicious meal you can prep ahead of time and bake when you are ready. Ingredients: 1 box manicotti pasta 1 cup part skim ricotta cheese ½ cup 

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

Caramel Apple Dump Cake

If you are craving caramel apples and want an easy dessert to impress a crowd then you will love this cake. 

Ingredients:

4-5 apples peeled and sliced

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon cardamom

1 bag Kraft caramels

1 spice cake box mix

1 stick unsalted butter

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Add apples to a large bowl.  Sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom.  Shake to coat all apples.  Microwave apples for 3-5 minutes.
  3. Spray a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick or baking spray.
  4. Arrange apples in an even layer.
  5. Spread the caramels out on top of the apples.
  6. Sprinkle cake mix on top of the apples.
  7. Slice butter into thin slices and arrange slices over the cake mix.
  8. Bake for 50-60 minutes.
  9. Let cool on a wire rack.
  10. Enjoy!  Eat as is or top with ice cream. 
  11. Suggestion- Microwave for 20 seconds if eating after the cake has cooled.
Roasted Eggplant and Chicken with Feta and Dill Yogurt Sauce

Roasted Eggplant and Chicken with Feta and Dill Yogurt Sauce

The roasted eggplant makes this dish so creamy and delicious!  You can make this spicier by using harissa instead of chili powder, but it was delicious as it was. Ingredients: 1 large eggplant or 6-10 small eggplants 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes 

Turkey Chili and Cornbread Waffles

Turkey Chili and Cornbread Waffles

My kids love when I make cornbread to go with chili.  This time I took a recipe from Fixate and my kids devoured it.  This healthy chili over cornbread waffles topped with shredded cheese and plain nonfat Greek yogurt is a dish that is sure 

Grilled Italian Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Grilled Italian Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

This marinated chicken tastes amazing on its own, but it is truly memorable with the roasted red pepper sauce.  If you have leftover sauce it works on pasta or veggie noodles too.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

Chicken-

6 thin chicken breasts

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons fresh parsley

Roasted Red Pepper Sauce-

½ onion diced

3 cloves garlic

1 jar roasted red peppers drained

1 cup reduced sodium vegetable broth

½ cup heavy cream

¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese

Directions:

  1. Add chicken, olive oil, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper (if desired) to a bag.  Mash together and let marinate for at least a few hours if not overnight.
  2. Preheat a grill to high heat.
  3. Spray a nonstick pan with olive oil spray.  Cook the onion and garlic on medium heat for 2-3 minutes. 
  4. Add the red peppers and cook for 5 minutes.
  5. Add the vegetable broth and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes.
  6. Carefully transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor.  Pulse until smooth. 
  7. Add the heavy cream and pulse to mix it in.
  8. Pour the sauce back into the nonstick pan.  Keep on low heat and add the shredded parmesan cheese.  Allow the cheese to melt in the sauce for a few minutes.
  9. Remove the chicken from the marinade.  Grill for 2-3 minutes per side.
  10. Serve the chicken with a dollop or more of sauce and some fresh parsley.
  11. The extra sauce tastes wonderful as a vegetable dip or over pasta or veggie noodles.
Roasted Rutabagas with Cranberry Sauce

Roasted Rutabagas with Cranberry Sauce

I love cranberries and recently fell in love with rutabagas as a healthier starchy vegetable. Recipe adapted from Food Network Ingredients- 1 rutabaga peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes 1 shallot peeled and quartered or red onion sliced 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 12 ounces 

Garlic and Parmesan Rutabaga Fries

Garlic and Parmesan Rutabaga Fries

Garlic and parmesan flavors pop on these low carb fries.  Simply drizzle with a little olive oil, sprinkle with garlic powder and grated parmesan cheese, and air fry for a delicious side dish. Ingredients: ½ rutabaga peeled and sliced into wedges 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive 

Italian Sloppy Joes

Italian Sloppy Joes

What’s better than a sloppy joe on a rich slice of Texas toast topped with melted provolone cheese?  This is an open faced sloppy joe your family is sure to devour.  For a low carb version you can dish the sloppy joe mixture over roasted spaghetti squash.

Recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef

1 red bell pepper diced

½ sweet onion diced

3 cloves garlic diced

14 ounces crushed or diced tomatoes

3 ounces tomato paste

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

4-6 slices provolone cheese

2 tablespoons fresh parsley

4-6 slices Texas toast (or make your own garlic toast)

Directions:

  1. Brown the beef in a large nonstick skillet sprayed with olive oil spray.  Break up the chunks and drain any liquid.  Cook on medium for 8 minutes.
  2. Add the peppers and onion to the beef.  Cook for 5 minutes.
  3. Add garlic, tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes stirring.
  4. Add tomatoes, oregano, and basil and bring to a simmer.  Simmer for 10 minutes to allow it to thicken.
  5. Meanwhile cook Texas toast according to package directions.  Heat 1-2 minutes less than listed cooking time. 
  6. Divide the tomato mixture over the slices of Texas toast.  If there is extra save it to eat on a wrap, bun, with zoodles, in a salad, etc…
  7. Sprinkle fresh parsley on each slice.
  8. Top each sloppy joe with a slice of provolone cheese.
  9. Broil on high 3-5 minutes.
  10. Enjoy!
Tahini Tuna Melt on a Zucchini and Squash Flatbread

Tahini Tuna Melt on a Zucchini and Squash Flatbread

I love tuna melts and this tuna melt is loaded with veggies and rich with flavor.  Ingredients: Flatbread- 1 yellow squash 1 zucchini 1 egg ½ teaspoon cumin Tuna Salad- 2 tablespoons tahini 5 ounce can tuna 1 garlic clove 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1